Nonrefillable stopper



Aug. 2, 1932. W JOHNSON 2,125,791

- NONREFILLABLE STOPPER Filed Dec;` 20., 1935 2 Shees-Sheet l Wwf? Mam, Mii

C. WQJOHNSON- NONREFILLABLE STOPPER Filed Dec. 2o, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 f WJobyf? Patented Aug.2,1938 Z,125,?91

UNTTED STATES PATENT oFFicE NONREFILLABLE STOPPER.

Charles W. Johnson, Uniontown, Pa. Application December 20, 1935, Serial No. 55,461

16V Claims. (Cl. 215-25) This invention relates to non-rellable Stoppers Wines, and like goods of the class where it is defor bottle and like containers, and more par-` sirable to insure that the purchaser receive the ticularly toan improved non-refillable stopper original contents intended to be purchased. Howunit for use in a non-rellable bottle assemblyV ever, the stopper unit has application as a stopsuch as is disclosed and claimed in my copendpering device for other types of containers such 5 ing application Serial No. 40,137, led September as jars and the likeyand al1 SllCll aDDlCatOnS and 11, 1935. adaptations are intended to be included withinV Among the o-bjects of my invention may be the scope of the present invention. noted the provision of an improved stopper unit In the drawings wherein `reference characters `for association with a bottle for the purpose of designate like parts throughout the several views, 1()` rendering the bottle non-rellable; the provision reference character Ill designates the neck porof a stopper of the above Idescribed character tion of a bottle adapted to `deliver its contents which permits free flow of liquid therefrom; the thrOllgh beltle mOuth AS more fully deprovision of an improved non-rellable stopper scribed and Claimed in my impending aDDliCatiOYl l5 unit Which,when properly related toabottle and Serial No. 737.281, .iled July 27, 1934. and in l5V With the bottle capped for shipping, is closed to my copending application above 'referred to, the liquiclcontained in the bottle, regardless of the bottle adjacent its neck I0 is provided With an position of the bottle; the provision of an imannular guard flange I2 which extends outwardly proved non-refillable stopper unit which, in ordifrom the neck and then upwardly in spaced relanary use of the bottle, is automatically closable` tion to the exterior neck surface, the ange Dlef- 20 whereby to prevent evaporationof the liquid conerably terminating Short 0f the mouth edge 0f tained in the bottle, as well as to prevent the inthe bottle. The flange I2 thus forms with the sertion and/or passage of improper matter exterior neck surface of the bottle an annular through the pouring opening of the stopper; the sealing pocket `or cup I3 which opens upwardly.

provision of a non-rellable stopper unit having In theouter neck surface of the bottle and with- 25 improved features of design and construction; in the pocket I3 is a circular groove or indentaand the provision of an improved bottle, stopper tion I4, one face of which forms an undercut and seal assembly which renders impossible the' shoulder I5 for the purpose to be hereinafter refilling of the bottletrwith the seal preventing redescribed.

use of the bottle, thus to insure the originality of, The improved stopper unit of the present in- 30 the contents of the bottle. Vention is adapted for insertion into the bottle other objects will be in part obvious from the neck whereupon it may be Sealed against reannexed drawings and in part hereinafter indi moval therefrom. Such sealing means are discated in connection therewith by .the following closed and claimed more fully in my copending analysis of the invention. applications referred to above, but will be briey 35 In the drawings: referred to in the following analysis of the pres- Figr l is a vertical section through the iment invention. 5 proved stopper of the present invention oper- Referring to the non-rellable stopper unit, atively related to abottle, and sealed and capped such preferably includes 2 10We1 Cup 01 Casing thereon; element A having a bottom inlet passage thereto, 40

Fig. 2 is a transverse section along lines 2-2 the main portion extending into the bottle neck; of Fig. 1; a iioat element B operating in the cup A and Fig. 3 is a transverse section along lines Carrying a ValVe assembly C irl COHIJIOllng rela- 3--3 of Fig. 1;- tion to the inlet passage to the cup, a ball or Fig.` 4 isa separated view of the automatic equivalent float weighting device F, a head or 45 closing means associated with the stopper as top element K. and a combined closure and illustrated in Fig. 1; guard assembly constituted as by a ball track Fig. 5 is a View showing the bottle and stopper L., a guard disc'M, and an eliminatie OD- CIOSUIe disposed in pouring position; i element N. The said unit is operatively posi- Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a stopper tioned in the head K as by a retaining ring R. 50 having modied constructional details. Referring the 011D' element A, Such may be In the following description, the non-rellable fabricated 0f metal 0r COIHDOSIDOD, and has a stopper unit of the present inventionl -will be Cylindrical 11211120 diSDOSed in the Substantially described in relation to its use with bottles such` cylindrical mouth portion of the bottle, and a 555 as Vare used to merchandise spiritous liquors, depending tapering portion 2| which extends for 55 a substantial distance into the bottle neck. The lower portion of the cup element 20 is formed cylindrical as at 22 and is of slightly reduced diameter, the edge portion of the cup being bent inwardly and upwardly as at 23 to form a seating edgeabout the inlet passage to the cup, and against which the valve assembly C may seat. y The float elementB which may be comprised by a mass of cork or like buoyant material is of appreciably lesser diameter than the interior diameter of the cup portion 20 and has its top surface slightly concave and sheathed by a cap 25, the edge of which is of slightly lesser .diameter than the cup portion 20 whereby the float may move freely within the cup, yet is guided therein. The cap 25 along its peripheral edge is suitably cut away or rolled as at 26 to provide serrations so that liquid may flow past the float cap when the bottle is tipped to its pouring position as illustrated in Fig. 5. 'I'he float B further carries a stem designated 38 upon which the valve assembly C is carried. As will be understood from my copending application Serial No, 40,137, the valve assembly C is comprised by a rubber valve disc 3| .disposed intermediate cupped discs 32 and 33, respectively, the said discs being rockably related to the stem through the provision of a conical washer 34 and located with respect to the stem by means of a lower holding sleeve 35. The stem 30 and the sleeve 35 extend through a central opening in an apertured disc 36, which latter is held to the cup element A by means of an apertured ferrule 31, the circular flange portion ofY which extends about the circular reduced end 22 of said cup. The lower portion of the ferrule 31 is in the shape of a truncated cone and extends downwardly about the stem 38 and the sleeve 35 whereby to protect the same during handling of the stopper unit prior to its relation on the bottle, or following removal of the stopper unit from the bottle as by breaking the guard flange I2 thereof. It will be understood that the apertures in the disc 36 and ferrule 31 permit passage of liquid to the main inlet opening to cup A, with the valve disc 3| of the valve assembly C being controllably related to such opening.

The. cylindrical portion 2|) of the cup terminates in a radial flange or shoulder Y40, which flange is spun or otherwise turned over a meeting flange 4| formed on a collar 42, the inner diameter of the collar being substantially that of the cylindrical cup portion 28. As will be apparent from Fig. 1, the exterior surface of the body portion of collar 42 is threaded to engage with interior threads formed in the head K. I propose to make these threads of the triple type whereby head K may be assembled on cup A with a simple relative turning operation between such parts. l

The head K, formed preferably of porcelain, is provide-d with a through opening comprised by a bottom cavity 45 of relatively large diameter, the cavity being defined at its upper portion by an abrupt shoulder 46. Cavity 45 communicates with an upper passage 41, the wall of which is serrated or otherwise channeled as at 48 to provide fluid passages along said wall. The inner wall surface of the head K thereupon merges inwardly as at 50 to provide awrelatively restricted cylindrical opening 5|, from whence the passage wall merges outwardly as at 52 into an upper cavity 54 whose wall is channeled as at 55 to provide fluid passages along said wall. By

56 are provided, the relatively inner surfaces `of exterior surface is which provide guide surfaces for the closure N to be described. The upper cavity walls adjacent the pouring opening are suitably inclined as at 51 and merge intoa cylindrical mouth portion 58, the surfaces 51 and 58 forming seating surfaces for the closure element N.

Considering the exterior wall surface of the head K, such extends cylindrically from its bottom edge to approximately its mid portion, such cylindrical portion terminating in a shoulder 60, above which the head is formed cylindrical for a short distance whereupon the remaining upper reduced in diameter and threaded as at 62.

Considering now the combined closure and guard unit, the top valve or closure element N of porcelain or equivalent' material, as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 4, is suitably bored longitudinally and is countersunk as at 65 for the reception of a female nut 66 provided with an enlarged head 61. The closure is provided with cylindrical and inclined surfaces 68 and 1U, respectively, generally complementary to the surfaces 51 and 58 of the head K and with a cylindrical body portion 1| of diameter such as to clear the guide tongues 56 of the head K while permitting fluid to pass between its cylindrical surface and the channels 55 of the head cavity 54. The lower portion 12 of the stopper is of reduced diameter and formed cylindrical, with its end surface bearing against the guard .disc M, also of porcelain, provided with a through bore. The relatively upper and lower surfaces of the body portion of said disc are formed horizontal and may converge towards each other as at 13, 14, the overall diameter of the disc being substantially less than the diameter of the channeled cavity 41 of the head K.

The ball track L, preferably of porcelain, is arranged below the guard disc M and is provided with a conical or inclined under track surface 88 on which the ball or weight F may roll when the bottle is tilted to a position as indicated in Fig. 5. By reference to Fig. 4, the body portion 8| of said track element is cylindrical and is provided with radially projecting teeth 82, the overall diameter of which is slightly less than the interior diameter of the collar 42 whereby the track element is guided in its relatively axial movement. The relatively top surfaces of the teeth 82 are inclined as at 83, the inclination being complemental to an inclined under surface 84 of the retaining ring R which is loosely mounted in the cavity 45 of the head K within the limits as defined by the top edge of the collar 42 and the cavity shoulder 46. The said collar is provided with a through opening and with a rim portion 85, the under surface of which rests on the top edge of the collar 42 with the bottle in upright position as indicated in Fig. 1. f

A holding bolt 86 extends through the central opening of the closure N, the guard disc M, and track element L, and operates to secure such parts together so that they move as a unit, the bolt being provided with a head 81 engaging in a suitable recess formed in the under portion of the track element, the upper threaded end of the bolt engaging in the female nut 61.v

To assemble the stopper parts aforesaid, the float B and valve C carried thereby are first operatively disposed within the cup A. The next operation is to position the guard disc M and retaining ring R within their respective cavities of the head K, whereupon track element L is inserted into the bottom of the head and the closure element Ninto the topV thereof. Upon proper alignment` oflthe parts, the bolt 86 is projectedthroughopenings thereof and screwed into the nut 66 sufficiently so that proper securement is obtained. With the closure and guard assembly so related, it will be seen that the said parts in effect depend as a unit i from the inclined surface 51 of the head K with Vthe head in its upright position.V The head K is then screwed down on the cup element A, and the stopper thus assembled as a unit. When the stopper is tilted or inverted (see Fig. Y5) the closure and guard assembly is suspended from the retaining ring R which engages against cavity shoulder 46. The function of the disc M of the stopper unit is to provide a tortuous path to the stopper interior, and the disc is at all times clear of the interior wall surfaces f head K, so that liquid may'iiow past said disc.

According to the present invention, I propose to dimension the overall depth of the combined closure and guard assembly in such manner that when the closure N is in its seated relation with respect to the head K as indicated in Fig. 1, such unit, through the medium of the ball F and float B, will operate to seat also the valve disc 3l of the valve assembly C against its seat formed by portion 23 of the cup member. With the parts so related, flow of liquid from the bottle to the interior of the stopper assembly when the bottles are upright is positively prevented. In order to maintain the parts in the aforesaid relation dur,- ing such times when the bottles areV laid in hori- Zontal position, as for example during shipping, I provide a screw cap element S adapted to be threaded on to the head K through the medium of threads 62 previously described. This cap element when screwed home functions to hold the closure N seated, and thus seats the valve C, thereby preventing a charge of liquid from being retained within the stopper prior to its first opening.

Considering now the means for associating the stopper unit above described to a bottle in such manner as to prevent unauthorized removal of the stopperfrom the bottle, I propose toI seal the stopper unit to the bottle by the sealing means and practices described and claimed in my copending applications above referred to, and

` such will be briefly described.

With the stopper unit inserted into the mouth and neck of the bottle, as illustrated in Fig. `l, and the screw cap S threaded on the head K thereof so as to seat the valve disc 3| of the valve assembly C, whereby to prevent flow of liquid contained in the bottle to the interior of cupl or casing A, I place over the so related screw cap and stopper head a foil hood or cap 90 which is j formed as to be readily placeable thereover. The depth of the hod'90 is such that its lower edge or skirt portion extends onto the exterior shoulder 6l] of the head K. Thereupon a sealing ring or sleeve 92 of inner diameter as to clear the cylindrical portion of the head K is threaded over the stopper head and related foil hood 96.

Ihe upper edge of thering 92 is rolled or beaded inwardly as at 93 to form an inwardly directed shoulder or abutment, and such may be suitably reinforced as by the provision of a strengthening ring within the bead 93. Said ring 92 is of sufficient depth that when the bead4 93 bears against shoulder 60 of head K to clamp the edge portion of the foil hood 90 thereagainshthe lower or skirt portion of the ring extends into the sealing pocket 75,; I3: of the bottle. The lower edge of the skirt portion is provided with a series of normally outwardly directed edge crimps 94 which extend adjacent the groove I4 within the sealing pocket.`

' With the parts so related, a locking ring 96 is threaded over the stopper, the inner diameter of which is such asto clear the body portion of the sealing ring 92 and the outer diameter being such as to clear the inner wall surface of the guard flange I2. The said locking ring is now forced into the pocket and, in so doing, engages the edge crimps 94 of the sealing ring to force them inwardly and crimp them permanently beneath the shoulder I of the bottle neck surface. The locking `ring is provided with an inwardly directed locking bead 91 near its bottom edge and, when such bead clears the edges of the crimps 94, the inherent resiliency of the metal of the crimps causes portions of the crimps to expand or spring outwardly over the bead, thus to lock permanently the locking ring 96 within the pocket.

By the above described arrangement, the stopper unit is not only securedV to the bottle but is so sealed to the bottle that it can be removed from the bottle only by breaking the guard ange I2, or by rupturing or destroying sealing ring or sleeve 92, both of said forms of removal being readilyV discernible. v It will be further understood that the bottom edge of the foil hood or cap 90 is also permanently clamped between the ring bead 93 and the shoulder 66 of the stopper head, whereby, upon rupturing or tearing away the main body of the foil hood, the edge thereof remains as in Fig. 5. The arrangement is of course such that once the original foil hood has been removed, the substitution of another hood is impossible. p

Referring now to Fig. 5, whereina bottle and stopper in accordance with the present invention is sho-wn disposed at a pouring angle, the foil hood has been torn away, as illustrated, and the screw cap S has been removed to permit normal use of the bottle. 'I'he bottom valve assembly may now function in response to the weight of ball F with the bottle in upright or substantially upright position, or in response to the oat B when the bottle is tilted as in Fig. 5. When the bottle is so tilted, it will be seen that the top closure or valve N and associated parts have moved axially of and relatively out of the bottle. Such movement is limited by the ring R which now moves to engage against shoulder 46 of the stopper bead K. The ring R upon being engaged by the teeth surfaces 83 of the track element L thus functions to retain the closure and guard unit in its proper pouring position. In addition to gravity acting on said parts, the weight of ball F also functions to- `move the closure and guard unit to its pouring position. Thus the iioat may now movein response to flow of liquid entering the cup or casing A to fully open valve C whereupon theliquid flows past float B, through thepassages in track L formed between the teeth 82 and the cylindrical body portion 8| thereof, thence past the disc M through channels 48, thence through the restricted opening 5I of the head, and finally past the seating surfaces 51, 58 to emerge from the stopper opening.

The relation of parts forming the non-refillable stopper unit and their design is such that relling of the bottle to which the unit is applied is impossible. Liquid cannot be forced under pressure intothe Abottle through the stopper because valve C through float B; 'IheA arrangementof guard disc and the tortuous paths of liquid ilow are such that no instrument, such as a wire or the like, could be forced into the stopper assembly to hold valve C open for forced or other forms of relling. If drilling through the stopper were attempted, such, if possible, automatically destroys the stopper parts and renders them useless, or renders the attempt so discernible as to be impracticable.

Further, the stopper unit is quick pouring and pours at a lesser angle than previously known Stoppers of the non-reiillable type. I attribute these characteristics to the fact that the stopper opens with a rush when the bottle is brought to its pouring angle and causes the liquid to ow with an initial high Velocity, thus breaking any possible vacuum and overcoming the effects of surface or capillary attraction. With the liquid flowing, its flow continues at a relatively high rate due to the unique arrangement of uid passages of substantial area through the stopper.

Referring to Fig. 5 wherein is shown a stopper and bottle assembly generally similar to that above described, a one-piece cup and collar element A for use in place of the metal cup element A and the separate collar 42 screwed thereon, as in Figs. 1-5 construction, while the modifled cup element may be formed from metal, it is preferably molded from a plastic composition of such nature that it will not be attacked or affected by the contents of the bottle. It will be seen that the collar portions Ma, 42a, of the cup are initegral with the cup portion proper, the collar portion being provided with molded exterior threads for engagement with interior threads of the stopper K. The ferrule 31a associated with the composition cup A' may also be fabricated from plastic material, although a metal ferrule can also be used.

The above described arrangements are capable of further modification, and it will be understood that all such modications and their adaptation which fall within the scope of the appended claims are intended to be embraced within the scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A non-rellable stopper unit for a bottle or like container, the stopper having an inlet and an outlet, float controlled means operatively related to said inlet for controlling admission of liquid to the stopper from the bottle, a gravity responor like container, the stopper having an inlet and an outlet, and a passage between said inlet and outlet, float controlled means operatively related to said inlet for controlling the ow of liquid to the stopper from said bottle, a gravity responsive assembly for controlling said stopper outlet, said assembly having a lower end portion whose transverse dimension is greater than that of the intermediate portion thereof, and means carried by said stopper against which the lower end portion of the assembly is adapted to engage, whereby to limit movement of the assembly in one direction.

3. A non-rellable stopper unit for a bottle or like container, the stopper having an inlet and between said inlet and outlet, float controlled means within the stopper for controlling admission of liquid from the bottle to said passage, and gravity responsive means contained in the stopper for controlling said stopper outlet, said rst means including a movable retaining element for said last means.

4. A non-rellable stopper unit for a bottle or like container, the stopper having an inlet and an outlet and a passage extending therebetween, a float contained within the stopper, a Valve carried by said float and disposed in controlling relation to said inlet, weighting means coacting with said iioat and operative normally to actuate said valve into inlet closing position, means normally operative in response to gravity to close said stopper outlet, and means carried by said last means and cooperating with the vwall of said passage to prevent access to the float and valve carried thereby.

5. A non-refillable stopper unit for a bottle or like container, the stopper having an inlet and an outlet and a passage extending therebetween, a float contained within the stopper, a valve carried by said oat and disposed in controlling relation to said inlet, weighting means coacting with said float and operative normally to actuate said valve into inlet closing position, a closure element for said stopper outlet, said closure element being so constructed and arranged as to effect, in one of its positions, the actuation of said valve means to inlet closing position through said oat and weighting means.

6. A non-rellable stopper unit for a bottle or like container, the stopper having an inlet and an outlet, means providing a tortuous passage therebetween, a float contained within the stopper, a valve carried by said oat and disposed in controlling relation to said inlet, weighting means coacting with said float and operative normally to actuate said valve into inlet closing position, a closure element normally operative by its weight to close said stopper outlet, and means carried by said closure element and cooperating with the wall of said passage to prevent access to the float and valve carried thereby.

7. A non-reiillable stopper unit comprising, in combination, a, cup element having a passage therethrough, valve means operatively arranged at one end of said element for controlling the passage inlet, a head secured at one end to the other end of said cup and having a through passage communicating with said irst passage, and automatic closing means operatively related to the other end of said head for controlling the outlet of said passage through said head, said automatic closing means being also operable to assist normal actuation of said valve means.

8. A non-rellable stopper unit comprising, in combination, a cup element having an inlet thereto, a ilo-at disposed in said cup, a valve carried by said float and disposed in controlling relation to the said inlet,v a head connected at the outlet side of said cup and having an outlet opening, the cup and the head having a communicating passage extending between said inlet and outlet opening, automatic closing means normally operative to close said outlet opening, and means carried by said closing means and cooperating with said passage wall to prevent access to said float and valve carried thereby through the head.

9. A non-reiillable stopper unit comprising, in combination, a cup element having an inlet thereto, afloat disposed in said cup, a valve carried by said float and disposed in controlling relation to said inlet, means coacting with said float to urge said valve to a position to close said inlet passage, a head connected to the outlet side of said cup and having an outlet opening, automatic closing means operative normally to close said outlet opening, and cooperating means carried by said head and said closing means Vproviding a tortuous path of liquid flow.

10. A non-rellable stopper unit comprising, in combination, a cup element having an inlet thereto, a float disposed in said cup, a valve carried by said oat and disposed in controlling relation to said inlet, a ball coacting with said float to normally urge said valve to a position to lclose said inlet, a head connected to they outlet side of said cup and having an outlet opening, the cup and head having a passage extending between the inlet and outlet opening, and automatic closing means operative normally to close said outlet opening, said last-named means including a surface against which said ball engages and provisions cooperating with the Wall of said passage and providing a tortuous path of iiuid iiow.

11. A non-rellable stopper unit comprising, in combination, a cup element having an inlet thereto, a float disposed in said cup, a valve carried by said float and disposed in controlling relation to said inlet passage, a ball coacting with said float to normally urge said valve to a position to close said inlet passage, a head connected to the outlet side of said cup and having an outlet opening, a closure and ball track assembly carried by said head and operative normally to close said outlet opening, and movable retaining means for said assembly carried by said head.

12. A non-rellable stopper unit comprising, in combination, a cup element having an inlet thereM to, a iioat disposed in said cup, a valve carried by said float and disposed in controlling relation to said inlet passage, a ball coacting with said float to normally urge said valve toa position to close said inlet passage, a head connected to the outlet side of said cup and having an outlet opening, and a movable closure, guard disc and ball track assembly carried by said head, with the closure being operative normally to close said outlet open- Ing.

13. In a 'non-refillable bottle or like container, the combination of a bottle, a non-rellable stopper unit, means securing the stopper to the bottle, the stopper unit having a through passage and an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom, valve means disposed in said stopper in controlling relation to the stopper inlet, a closure disposed in said stopper in controlling relation to said stopper outlet, and means operative through said closure to maintain said valve means in inlet closing relation with respect to said inlet whereby to prevent oW of the contents of the bottle into the stopper passage.

14. In anon-rellable bottle or like container, the combination of a bottle, a non-rellable stopper unit, means securing the stopper to the bottle, the stopper unit having a through passage and an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom, valve means disposed in said stopper in controlling relation to the stopper inlet, a closure disposed in said stopper in controlling relation to said stopper outlet, said closure and said valve means being cooperated in such manner that said valve means closes said inlet upon said closure closing said outlet, and means carried by said stopper for maintaining said closure in outlet closing relation whereby to prevent oW of the contents of the bottle into the stopper passage.

15. In a non-rellable bottle or like container, the combination of a bottle, a non-rellable stopper unit operatively related to said bottle, said stopper unit having a through passage and an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom, valve means disposed in said stopper in controlling relation to said stopper inlet, a closure disposed in said stopper outlet, said closure and said valve means being cooperated in such manner that said valve means closes said stopper inlet upon said closure closing said stopper outlet, means carried by said stopper for maintaining said closure in outlet closing relation whereby to prevent flow of the contents of the bottle into the stopper passage, and means for sealing said last-named means to the stopper and for sealing said stopper to the bottle.

16. A non-rellable stopper unit comprising, in combination, a stopper body having a through passage with an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom, valve means operatively related to said passage inlet, a movable ring element arranged in said passage, and automatic closure means operatively related to said passage outlet, said ring being arranged about an intermediate portion of said closure means and coacting therewith to limit movement of the closure means in outletopening direction, said ring and closure means further cooperating to provide a tortuous path of liquid flow through the stopper means.

CHARLES W. JOHNSON. 

